And some conversation heart subway art…

More Valentine’s Day ideas and printables here.

These cinnamon roll muffins were a happy accident. I had some leftover frozen Rhodes dinner roll dough, and a fierce craving for something buttery and sweet. I thawed the dough in the fridge, then split each piece of dough into three balls (about 1 inch). I dipped the balls in melted butter, rolled them in cinnamon sugar and placed three balls into each section of my well-buttered muffin tin. I baked them at 350 for about 12-15 minutes, and then mixed up a simple powdered sugar glaze for the top. They are a cross between a cinnamon roll and monkey bread in the convenience of a muffin. After they cooled a bit, the boys and I added the heart cupcake liners, and brought some to Cory at work for a treat. I will be making these again!

Oreo truffle pops! I’ve made these in the past and thought they were cute and yummy, but time consuming. I think adding the lollipop stick makes them easier to dip. Bakerella’s post is helpful.

Noah and Caleb are all ready for their Valentine’s Day party at school. Have your kids tried these GoGo Squeezes? They are in the Costco coupon book right now. My boys love them. Extra mommy points for handing out healthy treats right?

Happy Valentine’s Day to you!

I have really been wanting to like chili. I don’t mind the flavor or the meat, but the beans and tomato chunks scare me. I’ve been watching the Pioneer Woman’s cooking show, and I decided to make her chili, put on my big girl pants, and just try it! So I did, and I liked it (as long as there were fritos in every bite)! Next time, I would substitute another can of pinto beans for the kidney beans. They are just so much less noticeable for a girl who is not so sure about beans. I did like the addition of the masa flour mixed with water at the end. It made it taste richer and creamier. Here is her recipe:

Ingredients
2 pounds Ground Chuck
3 cloves Garlic, Minced (optional)
1 can (12 To 14 Ounce) Tomato Sauce
1 can (10 Ounce) Ro-tel (diced Tomatoes And Chilies)
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1 teaspoon Ground Oregano
1 Tablespoon Ground Cumin
2 Tablespoons Chili Powder (more To Taste)
1 can (14-ounce) Kidney Beans, Drained And Rinsed
1 can (14-ounce) Pinto Beans, Drained And Rinsed
1/4 cup Masa (corn Flour) Or Regular Corn Meal
1/2 cup Warm Water
Individual Bags Of Fritos
Grated Sharp Cheddar Cheese
Diced Red Onion (Optional)

Preparation Instructions
Brown ground chuck with garlic in a pot over medium-high heat. Add tomato sauce, Rotel, salt, oregano, cumin, and chili powder. Cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 30 minutes.
Add drained and rinsed beans. Stir to combine, then cover and simmer for another 20 minutes.
Mix masa with water, then add to the chili. Stir to combine and simmer for a final 10 to 15 minutes.

Lincoln- 14 months

Words: uh-oh, mama, dada, da da (thank you), baba (brother), ba (bath), ba ba (bye bye), some animal sounds. He signs for please, more, eat, and all done, but will mostly point and grunt.

Teeth: 13

Sleep: Usually about 12 hours at night and a 2 hour nap in the middle of the day. He doesn’t really want to rock or snuggle before bedtime anymore, but just throws his blankie in the crib and leans for it.

Food: Allergic to eggs, and lactose intolerant. But loves everything else. He will eat anything if I let him use a fork, and he’s getting pretty good at it too.

He gives the best long, tight hugs around my neck when I get him up from his nap. He can open doors. He enjoys putting his hands in the toilet. He loves to play in the backyard with his brothers.

Caleb- 3 years and 4 months

Favorite words- anything forbidden (stupid, poo-poo, butt). So instead of saying these words, he says dutt. As in, “you are such a dutter!” Or “Caleb, what did you do at school today?”… “Dutt.” (giggle, giggle)

He is enjoying his preschool class, but he struggles with not being too silly at circle time. I wonder if he will always love making people laugh, and how we will use this power for good. He’s also really good at telling “stories”. Without hesitation, he will say, “When I used to be a daddy, I took my kids to the park every day.”

He surprised me by writing his name for the first time and every else’s in the family, too. I’d tried to sit him down and help him learn but he wasn’t interested in the past.

He has a great memory! He has a United States puzzle that he loves to do, and he has memorized the name of all 50 states. He also memorizes all of Noah’s Bible verses for his class.

He loves to play hide and seek, and is learning to stay hidden until he’s found.

He loves to cook and bake with me. If he hears the mixer fire up, he runs to the kitchen and wants to be right there on the counter helping me add ingredients. He’s eager to taste new things, and has strong opinions about taste. He loves to chew gum.

He wants to be sung to, and he likes to sing. He usually asks for hymns at bedtime, because they are longer. Favorites are Trust and Obey, Great is Thy Faithfulness, Day by Day, Amazing Grace, and It is Well With My Soul.

He can really get Lincoln (and other babies too) laughing with complete nonsense/silliness.

It’s easy for me to forget he’s only three. I catch myself holding him to the same standards I have for Noah.

Noah- 5 years and 6 months

Words- Acts as word patrol. So and so said such and such. Very first born.

He loves being in Mrs. Fox’s pre-K class. He struggles to enjoy crafts or coloring. He’d rather be playing. He is learning to read, and this is so fun for me! He never tires of me reading to him. His new favorite book is Yertle the Turtle.

If he spends 15 minutes playing with a random kid at the park, he will refer to them as his best friend.

He loves cars. He notices different makes and models as we drive around, and talks about all the places he’ll go by himself when he’s sixteen.

He eats like a horse, every couple of hours. He’s leery of new foods, but usually can be talked into taking one bite. He prefers to eat leftover dinner for breakfast. He really wants to love gum, but can’t chew it longer than 30 seconds.

He asks a lot of questions about God, and the world. He likes to know how things work. He builds legos, takes them apart, and rebuilds them.

He loves to hit balls in the backyard with the whiffle bat. I struggle because if I stand close enough to him to pitch the ball accurately into the strike zone, I get pelted!

I love these boys. They make each day rich with humbling challenges, contagious laughter, and good company. They are sweet to me. I get so many “I love you’s” and “You’re the best mama ever’s”. Kind of makes up for all the sticky, stinky messes they leave behind them.

Matchy Cousins Ready for Christmas

Disneyland at Christmastime

Christmas with Jeff and Jenna

Christmas with Grani and the Newkirks

Christmas with the Boys

(the one they had been wanting and wanting!)

Christmas with the Gransee’s

(so gross, but we love him anyway!)

A Happy New Years at the Cabin

This is what happens when you try to take a picture of all the little ones at the end on the night. Not so great! Next time I’m going to try to remember to take a group shot before they are all worn out!

Noah: Mom, may I please take this costume off now?

Me: You can take it off right after you smile for a picture okay?